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Is anyone aware of Dr. Henry Beiler's book, Food Is Your Best Medicine? On the subject of freezing fresh fruit, he highly discourages the practice, stating that the freezing process changes the molecular structure so that it putrifies in our digestive tracts.

Ever since I read that (years ago) I've avoided frozen fruit for the most part. But I've always wished to have further comment on the subject. Is anyone out there knowledgable?

I had never heard of that before. I freeze fruit all the time - usually right before it is too ripe to eat, then I use it in smoothies. It saves me from wasting it. I have frozen berries, apricots, bananas, lychees, pineapple and peaches.

Is anyone aware of Dr. Henry Beiler's book, Food Is Your Best Medicine? On the subject of freezing fresh fruit, he highly discourages the practice, stating that the freezing process changes the molecular structure so that it putrifies in our digestive tracts.

Ever since I read that (years ago) I've avoided frozen fruit for the most part. But I've always wished to have further comment on the subject. Is anyone out there knowledgable?

I'll keep an open mind, but does he point to any evidence of this? Might be true, might not.

Posted by: ginnyTN, Thursday, September 12, 2013, 12:21am; Reply: 4

With few exceptions the only organic fruit that is regularly available in our area is apples. We have slightly better luck with veggies. I absolutely will not eat "conventionally raised" pesticide laden fruits or veggies that are in the official Dirty Dozen list.

Scroll down the page for the lists of the dirtiest most pesticide laden fruits and veggies and also the least "bad".

There is some small amount of nutrients lost when fruits OR vegetables are frozen. However, it it far more healthful to eat frozen organic fruits than to eat "fresh" (which are probably more than a week old) fruits full of pesticides which can't be washed off because they are under the wax coating.

As far as things "putrifying" in your digestive tract: If the odor of your stools drives you out of the bathroom you'll know you have a problem.

I'll keep an open mind, but does he point to any evidence of this? Might be true, might not.

I think Dr. Bieler's point of view came from his 50+ years as an M.D. treating people mostly with food, rarely drugs. It's a great little book! ...out of print but, up until recently, still available on Barnes & Noble and/or Amazon as used.

There is some small amount of nutrients lost when fruits OR vegetables are frozen. However, it it far more healthful to eat frozen organic fruits than to eat "fresh" (which are probably more than a week old) fruits full of pesticides which can't be washed off because they are under the wax coating.

As far as things "putrifying" in your digestive tract: If the odor of your stools drives you out of the bathroom you'll know you have a problem.

A couple of good thoughts. :)

Posted by: ruthiegirl, Thursday, September 12, 2013, 6:02pm; Reply: 7

I think we all need to remember "good, better, and best." Perhaps frozen fruit isn't nearly as healthful as fresh fruit. However, if the options are "chemically laden fresh fruit" or "frozen organic" you may well be better off with the frozen organic. Alternatively, the options part of the year are "frozen fruit" or "no fruit." For somebody with a very sensitive digestive tract, going with "no fruit" for a few months just might be better- but for most of us, the frozen fruits (especially if they're organic, picked and frozen at the peak of ripeness, and are beneficials for personal food lists) are going to be a better choice than going with "no fruit" or "limp, out of season fruit."

... but for most of us, the frozen fruits (especially if they're organic, picked and frozen at the peak of ripeness, and are beneficials for personal food lists) are going to be a better choice than going with "no fruit" or "limp, out of season fruit."

I would certainly think so especially when you consider that by far the largest mass component of most fruit is simply water which is carrying everything else.Freezing may make it more vulnerable to decomposition once thawed but 'keeping the goodies frozen' into the off peak season certainly seems to beat some of the alternatives.

Freezing is also a fairly recent option for food storage and some people may be inclined to distrust it on that account.

Have you read Dr. D'Adamo's ERFYT Complete Blood Encyclopedia? Starting on page 435, there is a discussion about polyamines which are bad for us if they get elevated and we ingest them. On page 436 it mentions that "Frozen . . . foods are loaded with polyamines." I understand that the food industry flash freezes foods but don't know their exact technique. I have to wonder if a "slow" freeze in a freezer at home could be somewhat less deleterious to cellular structure with lower amounts of polyamines released -- maybe not. I don't know if anybody has studied whether it matters how fast something is frozen regarding polyamine generation. However, an analogy occurs to me. In nature there are some plants and insects that suffer being frozen in ice for some time that upon being thawed "come back to life" -- literally. One has to wonder what happens to their polyamines under those conditions.

I know after reading about polyamines that I plan on staying away from frozen, canned, and preserved foods as much as possible. I plan on doing my best to buy fresh fruits and vegetables while they are in season and at a better price.

Just a few thoughts for what they are worth.

Posted by: ginnyTN, Sunday, September 22, 2013, 5:49pm; Reply: 10

Avid Birder,

Yes, commercially fast frozen foods do have higher levels of polyamines. At least that is what Dr. D. told me when I asked him at a mini conference we held in our area. My question to him was specifically about fish. I am guessing it applies to other foods as well.

So it seems the best thing to do is raise your own or get locally grown freshly picked organic veggies and do your own home freezing for the off season.

When I was much younger that is exactly what I did. However, at my age now I simply cannot do that much "standing in the kitchen work" and we no longer have any place for a garden.

So, as others here have said, we do the best we can do.

On the bright side, our local Kroger store has had nice organic pears again the past 2 weeks and we have thoroughly enjoyed eating the few we have purchased! I bought one peach and it was more than half rotten inside, so no more fresh peaches this year. Too bad the store is so far away or we would go more often when they have the good stuff.